Kabul, August 22 — Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan have pledged to intensify their joint efforts to combat terrorism and deepen regional cooperation, following the sixth trilateral foreign ministers’ meeting held in Kabul.
The high-level dialogue brought together Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi.
The three sides agreed to strengthen collaboration across political, economic, and security domains, with a particular focus on counter-terrorism. The meeting marked the resumption of trilateral talks after a pause since 2023 and was hosted by China as part of its broader Belt and Road Initiative aimed at promoting regional connectivity and stability.
In addition to security, the ministers emphasized expanding cooperation in trade, transit, regional development, health, education, culture, and combating drug smuggling. A key outcome was the reaffirmation of support for extending the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into Afghanistan, signaling a shared commitment to long-term economic integration.
Ahead of the trilateral session, Ishaq Dar held a sideline meeting with Amir Khan Muttaqi, where both expressed satisfaction over the progress in bilateral political and economic ties. They welcomed the recent upgrade in diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan—from Charge d’Affaires to ambassadorial level—and noted that most decisions from previous meetings had either been implemented or were nearing completion.
However, Dar voiced concern over the slow pace of security cooperation, particularly in counter-terrorism. He cited a recent surge in terrorist attacks inside Pakistan by groups operating from Afghan territory and urged Afghan authorities to take concrete and verifiable action against banned outfits such as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
In response, Muttaqi reaffirmed Afghanistan’s commitment to ensuring its soil is not used against Pakistan or any other country. He emphasized that Afghanistan remains dedicated to regional peace and stability.
The trilateral meeting concluded with a renewed pledge to work collectively toward peace, security, and development across South and Central Asia, reinforcing the strategic importance of regional cooperation in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.
